Power supply apparatus for sliding door

ABSTRACT

The power supply apparatus for sliding door  100  includes the vehicle body side fixing member  110  provided in the guide rail receiving portion  143 , the bracket side fixing member  120  provided in the bracket  151 , the wiring body  130  for supplying power from the vehicle body  140  side to the sliding door  150  side and the running member for bracket  160  for running and holding the wiring body  130  on the back surface of the bracket  151 . The wiring body  130  is held with the vehicle body side fixing member  110  and the bracket side fixing member  120 , and is arranged to run on the back surface of the bracket  151  with the running member for bracket  160.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the power supply apparatus for sliding doorfor supplying power all the time from the body side of the automobile todevices within the sliding door.

BACKGROUND ART

Such devices as the power window motors, switches, speakers or the likeare incorporated into the sliding door used for a van or a wagon car orthe like. In order to supply power from the vehicle body side to thedevices, it must be designed that wiring body (wire harness) is arrangedto run from the vehicle body side to the sliding door side, while thewire harness smoothly follow the opening and closing of the slidingdoor. A round wire having high flexibility has been conventionally usedas the wire harness.

It is known that there is proposed the power supply apparatus forsliding door in which the wire harness winding unit is provided in thevehicle body side, and the surplus length of the wire harnessaccompanied with the opening and closing of the sliding door is wound soas to be adjusted (refer to Patent document 1). In order to prevent thewiring body from being sagged, a guide tube is used in the power supplyapparatus for sliding door disclosed in the Patent document 1.

It is also known that there is proposed the power supply apparatus forsliding door in which the corrugated tube receiving therein the wiringbody is arranged to run with extra-length enough for bending between theprescribed position of the vehicle body and the sliding door, where oneend of the corrugated tube is fixed to the sliding door, and thevicinity of the other end is supported in laterally movable by thebracket provided to the vehicle body (refer to Patent document 2).

Furthermore, it is also known that there is proposed the power supplyapparatus for sliding door in which the wiring body is arranged to runfrom the vehicle body 103 side to the sliding door 104 side in use ofcable guide 101 in which plural piece members 102 shown in FIG. 42 arejoined (refer to Patent document 3). The cable guide 101 is arranged tobend in forming into S-shape when it has loosening.

-   Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication Hei    11-93514-   Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication    2002-79892-   Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication    2004-34759

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved

However, the conventional power supply apparatus for sliding door causea problem that it presents a poor appearance since the wiring bodybecome visible and invisible from passenger and randomly moves in theopening and closing of the sliding door. Furthermore, if the wiring bodyis randomly exposed when getting in and getting out of the vehicle withthe sliding door fully opens, there is a risk to tread on it. And, inthe conventional power supply apparatus in which the wiring body isreceived in the cable guide, there is a risk to tread on and causedamage to the cable guide.

Furthermore, an exterior tube such as guide tube or corrugated tube isused for controlling the movement of the wiring body, however, since thewiring body is arranged to run only after the whole wiring body fromvehicle body to sliding door is received in one exterior tube, it causea problem that time and labor are required for installation of theexterior tube or for running of the wiring body. Furthermore, since bothone portion of the wiring body which moves and the other portion whichdoes not move in the opening and closing of the sliding, are received inone unit of the exterior tube, it cause a problem that considerablestress is applied on the wiring body as it moves or protectionperformance tan not be sufficiently obtained.

Therefore, one purpose of the present invention for resolving theseproblems is to provide a power supply apparatus for sliding door inwhich the wiring body for supplying power to sliding door is arranged torun such that the wiring body is not exposed outside. Another purpose ofthe present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus for slidingdoor in which the wiring body for supplying power to the sliding door isprevented from randomly moving between the vehicle body and the slidingdoor. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a powersupply apparatus for sliding door in which the exterior tube suitablefor the behavior of the wiring body accompanied with the opening andclosing of the sliding door is provided.

Means to Solve the Problem

One embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door of thepresent invention is the power supply apparatus for sliding door forsupplying power all the time from a vehicle body to the sliding door inwhich a bracket is arranged to move along a guide rail received in aguide rail receiving portion of the vehicle body such that the slidingdoor is capable of opening and closing, including; a wiring body forsupplying power from the vehicle body side to the sliding door side; avehicle body side fixing member provided in a prescribed position of theguide rail receiving portion for holding the wiring body such that thewiring body moves inside the guide rail receiving portion in the openingand closing of the sliding door; a bracket side fixing member providedin a prescribed position of the bracket for holding the wiring body suchthat the wiring body moves inside the guide rail receiving portion inthe opening and closing of the sliding door.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, a flat cable, as the wiring body, is arranged torun at least between the body side fixing member and the bracket sidefixing member, and the flat cable is arranged to run such that movingtrace of the flat cable is formed on a horizontal plane with a flatsurface of the flat cable perpendicularly maintained.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the present invention, the vehicle body side fixing memberis provided substantially in the middle of the guide rail, and thevehicle body side fixing member is provided more inside the vehicle bodythan the guide cable.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the vehicle body side fixing member has anoblique surface with a prescribed angle in an extracting direction inwhich the wiring body is extracted from the vehicle body, and thevehicle body side fixing member has a first R portion with prescribedcurvature radius in an opposite direction of the extracting direction.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the bracket side fixing member has a second Rportion and a third R portion, and the wiring body is arranged to runbetween the second R portion and the third R portion.

Another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door of thepresent invention is the power supply apparatus for sliding door forsupplying power all the time from the vehicle body to the sliding doorwhich is arranged to open and close with the bracket moved along theguide rail received in the guide rail receiving portion, including; awiring body for supplying power from the vehicle body side to thesliding door side, the bracket side fixing member provided in aprescribed position of the bracket for holding the wiring body and arunning member for the bracket for running and fixing the wiring body ona back surface of the bracket.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the running member for bracket includes a runningtube into which the wiring body is inserted and a fixing member forfixing the running tube on the back surface of the bracket.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the wiring body is the flat cable, and therunning member for bracket includes a flat surface adjustment member foradjusting the flat cable extracted from the bracket side fixing membernon-parallel to the back surface of the bracket such as parallel to theback surface of the bracket.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the running member for bracket further includes arunning direction control member for folding the wiring body to controlthe running direction of the flat cable.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the running member for bracket further includes arunning base fixed on the back surface of the bracket, in which the flatcable, the flat surface adjustment member and the running directioncontrol member are provided.

Another one embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention is the power supply apparatus for sliding door forsupplying power all the time from the vehicle body to the sliding doorwhich is arranged to open and close with the bracket moved along theguide rail received in the guide rail receiving portion, including; awiring body for supplying power from the vehicle body side to thesliding door side; a vehicle body side fixing member provided in aprescribed position of the guide rail receiving portion for holding thewiring body; a bracket side fixing member provided in a prescribedposition of the bracket for holding the wiring body; an exterior tubearranged to run at least between the vehicle body side fixing member andthe bracket side fixing member, in which the wiring body is received;wherein the exterior tube is arranged to run in such a manner that anupper surface and a lower surface of the exterior tube whichsubstantially have plate-shape, are horizontally maintained, and has aconfiguration to bend for moving inside the guide rail receiving portionaccompanied with the opening and closing of the sliding door.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the exterior tube includes the upper surfacehaving high thickness for having high rigidity and the lower surfacehaving low thickness for having low rigidity such that a bent portion isformed in the exterior tube with the upper surface outside and with thelower surface inside.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the exterior tube includes the upper surfacehaving high flexibility such that the bent portion is formed with theupper surface outside.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, grooves are provided on the lower surface of theexterior tube with prescribed gaps in a perpendicular direction to therunning direction and the bent portion is formed with the lower surfaceinside

Another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door of thepresent invention is the power supply apparatus for sliding door forsupplying power all the time from the vehicle body to the sliding doorwhich is arranged to open and close with the bracket moved along theguide rail received in the guide rail receiving portion, including; awiring body for supplying power from the vehicle body side to thesliding door side; a bracket side fixing member provided in a prescribedposition of the bracket for holding the wiring body; a wiring supportmember for running the wiring body extracted from the bracket sidefixing member to the sliding door along the edge portion of the bracket;

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the wiring support member includes at least notless than two pairs of two fixing hooks having the length more than thewidth of the wiring body and facing each other, wherein the wiring bodyis inserted between the two fixing hooks.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the wiring support member includes at least notless than two pairs of a mounting hook for mounting the wiring body anda metal fixture facing the mounting hook for fixing the wiring body,wherein the mounting hook is integrally formed with the bracket.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, the wiring support member includes the runningtube into which the wiring body is inserted and a metal fittings forfixing the running tube on the bracket.

Another one embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention is the power supply apparatus for sliding door forsupplying power all the time from the vehicle body to the sliding doorwhich is arranged to open and close with the bracket moved along theguide rail received in the guide rail receiving portion, including; awiring body for supplying power from the vehicle body side to thesliding door side; a vehicle body side fixing member provided in aprescribed position of the guide rail receiving portion for holding thewiring body; a bracket side fixing member provided in a prescribedposition of the bracket for holding the wiring body; a sliding door sidefixing member provided in a prescribed position of the sliding door forholding the wiring body; a exterior tube into which the wiring isinserted for protecting the wiring body; wherein the exterior tube isprovided at least from the bracket side fixing member to the slidingdoor side end of the bracket.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, a second exterior tube different from theexterior tube provided in the bracket is provided from the vehicle bodyside fixing member to the bracket side fixing member, wherein the secondexterior tube has lower rigidity than the exterior tube.

In another embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention, a flat cable, as the wiring body, is arranged torun at least between the vehicle body side and the bracket side fixingmember, wherein the flat cable is made of a rectangular conductorcovered with prescribed coat.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powersupply apparatus for sliding door in which a wiring body for supplyingpower to sliding door is arranged to run in such a manner that thewiring body is not exposed outside. Since the power supply apparatus forsliding door of the present invention has a configuration in which thewiring body moves inside the guide rail accompanied with the opening andclosing of the sliding door, it is possible to prevent the wiring bodyfrom being exposed outside and being damaged or from presenting a poorappearance.

In the power supply apparatus for sliding door of the present invention,since the wiring body is arranged to run on the back surface of thebracket, it is possible to prevent the wiring body from being exposedoutside accompanied with the opening and closing of the sliding door andto provide the power supply apparatus which achieves a good appearance.Furthermore, since the power supply apparatus for sliding door of thepresent invention has such a configuration that the exterior tube forreceiving the wiring body moves inside the guide rail receiving portionaccompanied with the opening and closing of the sliding door, it ispossible to prevent the wiring body from being exposed outside and beingdamaged or from presenting a poor appearance.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powersupply apparatus for sliding door for preventing the wiring body fromrandomly moving between the vehicle body and the sliding door. Accordingto the power supply apparatus of the present invention, since the wiringbody is arranged to run along the edge portion of the bracket, it ispossible to prevent the wiring body from randomly moving between thevehicle body and the sliding door accompanied with the opening andclosing of the sliding door and to provide the power supply apparatusfor sliding door which achieves a good appearance.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powersupply apparatus for sliding door in which the exterior tube suitablefor the behavior of the wiring body accompanied with the opening andclosing of the sliding door, is provided. In the power supply apparatusfor sliding door of the present invention, since the exterior tube isprovided at least in the running position of the bracket where thewiring body is mostly damaged, it is possible to prevent the wiring bodyfrom being damaged

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is plan view of vehicle configuration in the vicinity of thesliding door;

FIG. 3 is plan view of the vehicle body side fixing member;

FIG. 4 is plan view of the trace which the wiring body leaves in thebody side fixing member;

FIG. 5 is plan view of the bracket side fixing member;

FIG. 6 is plan view of the trace which the wiring body leavesaccompanied with the opening and closing of the sliding door;

FIG. 7 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows the condition in which the running member for bracket isfixed on the back surface of the bracket according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows the condition in which a running member for bracket isprovided on the back surface of the bracket according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows one embodiment of the flat surface adjustment member;

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of the running direction control member;

FIG. 14 shows the running member for bracket according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows the configuration of the exterior tube according to thesixth embodiment;

FIG. 17 shows the bending status of the exterior tube;

FIG. 18 shows the moving trace of the exterior tube according to thesixth embodiment;

FIG. 19 shows the configuration of the exterior tube according to theseventh embodiment;

FIG. 20 shows the bent portion of the exterior tube according to theseventh embodiment;

FIG. 21 shows the configuration of the exterior according to the eighthembodiment;

FIG. 22 shows the bent portion of the exterior tube according to theeighth embodiment;

FIG. 23 shows the configuration of the exterior tube according to theninth embodiment;

FIG. 24 shows the bent portion of the exterior tube according to theninth embodiment;

FIG. 25 shows the configuration of the exterior tube according to thetenth embodiment;

FIG. 26 shows the bent portion of the exterior tube according to thetenth embodiment;

FIG. 27 shows the configuration of the exterior tube according to theeleventh embodiment;

FIG. 28 shows the bent portion of the exterior tube according to theeleventh embodiment;

FIG. 29 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the twelfth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 30 is plan view of the vehicle configuration in the vicinity of thesliding door;

FIG. 31 shows the configuration of the wiring support member accordingto the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 32 shows the configuration of the wiring support member in the casethe wiring body is the flat cable;

FIG. 33 shows the wiring support member in which the clamp is fitted onthe edges of the fixing hooks;

FIG. 34 shows the configuration of the wiring support member accordingto the thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 35 shows the configuration of the wiring support member accordingto the fourteenth embodiment;

FIG. 36 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding dooraccording to the fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 37 is plan view of the vehicle configuration in the vicinity of thesliding door;

FIG. 38 is plan view of the exterior tube of the fifteenth embodimentprovided on the back surface of the bracket;

FIG. 39 is plan view of the exterior tube of the sixteenth embodiment;

FIG. 40 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe seventeenth embodiment;

FIG. 41 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe eighteenth embodiment; and

FIG. 42 is plan view of the conventional power supply apparatus forsliding door.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10, 40, 100, 200, 300, 400 . . . power supply apparatus for sliding door

11, 41, 110 . . . vehicle body side fixing member

11 a, 41 a . . . oblique surface

11 b, 41 b, 111 . . . first R portion

12, 120 . . . bracket side fixing member

12 a, 121 . . . second R portion

12 b . . . third R portion

13, 130 . . . wiring body

14 . . . bent portion

20, 140 . . . vehicle body

21, 141 . . . guide rail

22, 142 . . . step

23, 143 . . . guide rail receiving portion

30, 104, 150, 304, 404, 504, 904 . . . sliding door

31, 151 . . . bracket

101, 901 . . . cable guide

102, 302, 402, 502, 902 . . . piece member

103, 303, 403, 503, 903 . . . vehicle body

160, 260 . . . running member for bracket

161 . . . running tube

162 . . . fixing member

230 . . . flat cable

261 . . . flat surface adjustment member

262 . . . running direction control member

263 . . . running base

264 . . . wiring fixing member

267 . . . screw

271 . . . running base

272 . . . protection cover

301 . . . cable guide

131, 231, 331, 431, 531, 631 . . . exterior tube

132, 232, 332, 432, 532, 632 . . . upper surface

133, 233, 333, 433, 533, 633 . . . lower surface

134 . . . side surface

135 . . . hollow portion

136, 236, 336, 436, 536, 636 . . . bent portion

334, 434 . . . groove

534 . . . protruding portion

160, 260, 360 . . . wiring support member

161, 162 . . . fixing hook

163 . . . clamp

261 mounting hook

262 metal fixture

263 . . . hinge

264 . . . bolt

361 . . . running tube

362 . . . metal fittings

363 . . . screw

152 . . . sliding door side fixing member

161, 261, 361, 461 . . . exterior tube

162, 262 . . . metal fixture

501 . . . cable guide

BEST EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferable embodiments of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present invention is described in detail with reference to thedrawings. For simplicity of the description, each component having thesame function uses the same reference numerals.

Referring to the FIG. 1, there is illustrated a plan view of the powersupply apparatus for sliding door according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention. The power supply apparatus for sliding door 10according to the present invention is provided in the vicinity of theguide rail 21 provided in the vehicle body for opening and closing thesliding door. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the vehicle configurationin the vicinity of the sliding door. In the FIG. 2, the sliding door 30is supported with the bracket 31 provided on the lower front portion ofthe sliding door 30, another bracket provided on the upper front portionof the sliding door 30 and another bracket provided on the rear portionof the sliding door 30, which are not shown in the figures.

On the vehicle body 20 side, the step 22 is provided in a sliding doorentry portion and the guide rail 21 is provided underneath the step 22.The guide rail receiving portion 23 (shown in FIG. 2 as shaded) in whichthe guide rail 21 is provided is space for the bracket 31 to travel. Thesliding door 30 is arranged to open and close as rollers provided on thevehicle body side end of the bracket 31, which is not shown in thefigures, travels along the guide rail 21.

Furthermore, the guide rail receiving portion is also provided for thebracket which is provided on the upper portion of the sliding door 30,and the power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the presentinvention is applicable to the upper bracket and guide rail receivingportion. Otherwise, it is applicable to both the upper and lower bracketand guide rail receiving portion.

The guide rail 21 is provided parallel to the vehicle body 20 such thatthe sliding door 30 moves parallel to the vehicle body 20 from thefull-opening status shown in FIG. 2 to the half-closing status. Sincewhen the sliding door 30 moves to the full-closing status, it isnecessary to pull the sliding door 30 toward the vehicle body 20 side,the guide rail 21 is arranged to curve toward the inside of the vehiclebody 20 in the vicinity of the middle portion to the front portion.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door 10 of the present embodimentincludes the vehicle body side fixing member 11 provided in the guiderail receiving portion 23, bracket side fixing member 12 provided in thebracket 31, and the wiring body 13 held with the vehicle body sidefixing member 11 and bracket side fixing member 12 for supplying powerfrom the vehicle body 20 side to the sliding door 30 side. In thepresent embodiment, the power supply apparatus for sliding door 10 isprovided inside the guide rail receiving portion 23, and theconfigurations and fixing positions of the vehicle body side fixingmember 11 and bracket side fixing member 12 are defined such that thewiring body 13 does not go beyond the guide rail fixing member 23 in theopening and closing of the sliding door 30.

The vehicle body side fixing member 11 is provided in the vehicle body20 more inside than the location of the guide rail 21. This is forenabling the wiring body 13 to move more inside, as much as possible,than the location of the guide rail 21, in addition to preventing thevehicle body side fixing member 11 from interfering with the bracket 31which moves along the guide rail 21.

And the location of the vehicle body side fixing member 11 issubstantially in the middle of the guide rail 21 in the direction of theopening and closing of the sliding door 30. Therefore, it is possible toevenly maintain the distance from the vehicle body side fixing member 11to the bracket side fixing member 12 in the full-closing status andfull-opening status of the sliding door 30. And, as a result, it ispossible to maintain the length of the wiring body 13 from the vehiclebody side fixing member 11 to the bracket side fixing member 12 suchthat the wiring body 13 has no loosening. The wiring body 13 has suchlength, it has loosening when the sliding door 30 is in a positionbetween the full-closing position and full-closing position.

In the present embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door10, the vehicle body side fixing member 11 has a configuration shown inFIG. 3 for preventing the wiring body 13 from going beyond the guiderail receiving potion 23 when the wiring body 13 has a loosening. Asshown in FIG. 3, the vehicle body side fixing member 11 has the obliquesurface 11 a and the first R portion 11 b such that the wiring body 13is arranged to run between the oblique surface 11 a and the first Rportion.

When the vehicle body side fixing member 11 has such a configuration thewiring body 13 leaves the trace shown in FIG. 4. Namely, when thesliding door 30 fully opens, the wiring body 30 is wound around thefirst R portion 11 b and is stretched to the front as shown by referencenumeral 13 a.

And, as the sliding door is opened, the wiring body 13 moves along theoblique surface 11 a to the rear as shown by the reference numeral 13 iin FIG. 4 accompanied with the movement of the bent portion 14 of thewiring body 13 to the rear. When the sliding door 30 fully opens, thewiring body 13 is in contact with the oblique surface 11 a and isstretched to the rear.

Therefore, since oblique surface 11 a and the first R portion 11 b areprovided in the vehicle body side fixing member 11, it is possible tomove the bent portion 14 of the wiring body 13 substantially parallel tothe wall surface of the oblique surface 11 a and the guide railreceiving portion 23. The preferable values of the obliquity A of theoblique surface 11 a and the curvature radius of the R of the first Rportion 11 b are obtainable in accordance with the location of thevehicle body side fixing member 11, the length of the wiring body 13,the size of the width and depth of the guide rail receiving portion 23,or the like.

On the other hand, the second R portion 12 a and the third R portion 12b are provided in the bracket side fixing member 12 which is provided inthe bracket 31 as shown in FIG. 5 and the wiring body 13 is arranged torun between the second R part 12 a and the third R part 12 b. In thepresent embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door 10,the wiring body 13 is wound around the second R portion 12 a when thesliding door 30 fully opens, and the wiring body 13 is wound around thethird R portion 12 b when the sliding door 30 fully closes.

In the embodiment of the power supply apparatus for sliding door 10described above, the wiring body 13 moves to leave the trace shown inFIG. 6. Namely, the bracket 31 is located at the forefront shown byreference numeral 31 a when the sliding door 30 fully closes, and thewiring body 13 is wound around the first R portion 11 b and the third Rportion 12 b and forms into a linear shape.

As the sliding door 30 moves from the full-closing position to thefull-opening position, the bracket 31 moves to the positions ofreference numeral 31 i and 31 j. The wiring body 13 also moves to thereference numeral 13 i and 13 j accompanied with this movement. In thiscondition, the wiring body 13 has loosening and the bent portion 14 isformed as the wiring body 13 turns around to bend. The bent portion 14starts at the first R portion 11 b and moves toward the full-openingposition of the sliding door as the sliding door moves toward thefull-opening position.

Likewise, when the sliding door 30 moves from the full-opening positionto the full-closing position, the bent portion starts at the second Rpart 12 a and moves toward the full-closing position. As describedabove, since the bent portion 14 moves along the wall surface of theoblique surface 11 a and guide rail receiving portion 23, it is possibleto prevent the wiring body 13 from, for example, forming into a largearc shape and being exposed outside the guide rail receiving portion 23.

When the sliding door 30 is fully opened, the bracket 31 is located inthe rear position shown by the reference numeral 31 b, and the wiringbody 13 is in contact with the oblique surface 11 a and is wound aroundthe second R portion 12 a to form into a linear shape at the same time.As described above, in the power supply apparatus for sliding door 10 ofthe present embodiment, it is possible to move the wiring body 13 insidethe guide rail receiving portion 23, without a risk that the wiring body13 is exposed outside the guide rail receiving portion 23, even when thesliding door 30 is located in the full-opening position, in thefull-closing position and in the position between the full-openingposition and full-closing position.

It is preferable to use the flat cable for the wiring body 13 arrangedto run between the vehicle body side fixing member 11 and bracket sidefixing member 12. The flat cable is arranged to run in such a mannerthat a moving trace of the flat cable is formed on a horizontal planewith a flat surface of the flat cable perpendicularly maintained. In thecase that a flat cable in which multiple wiring bodies overlapped areused, since the flat cable has restoring force to restore the linearshape when the flat cable is bent in the bent portion 14, it is possibleto move the wiring body 13 only inside the guide rail receive member 23without a risk that the wiring body 13 forms into a large arc shape andis exposed outside.

Either a rectangular conductor or a round wire can be used for aconductor enclosed within the flat cable as the wiring body 13, however,it is more preferable to use the flat cable in which the rectangularconductor is enclosed. And it is preferable that the wiring body 13 isreceived within a protection tube, at least, in the area between thebody side fixing member 11 and the bracket side fixing member 12 in aview point of protection of the wiring body 13, and it is preferable touse the wiring body protection tube which has flexibility, such ascorrugate tube.

The wiring body 13 can be extended and used from the bracket side fixingmember 12 to the sliding door 30 side, or, for example, another wiringbody can be connected with the wiring body 13 in use of a connector. Thewiring body extended from the bracket side fixing member 12 to thesliding door 30 side can be flat cable, or, for example, round wire.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the secondembodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to FIG.7. In the power supply apparatus for sliding door 40 shown in FIG. 7,the aspect of body side fixing member 41 is opposite to the one of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the wiring body is in contactwith the oblique surface 41 a when the sliding door 30 is fully closed,and is wound around the first R part 41 b when the sliding door is fullyopened. In this embodiment, the wiring body 13 is also able to moveinside the guide rail receiving portion 23 without a risk that thewiring body 13 is exposed outside even when the sliding door 30 islocated in the full-closing position, in the full-opening position andin the position between the full-opening position and full-closingposition.

The plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding door accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. Thepower supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the present embodiment isprovided in the vicinity of the guide rail 141 provided in the vehiclebody for opening and closing the sliding door. One embodiment of thevehicle configuration in the vicinity of the sliding door is asexplained with reference to FIG. 2.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the present inventionincludes, a vehicle body side fixing member 110 provided in the guiderail receive member 143, a bracket side fixing member 120 provided inthe bracket 151, a wiring body 130 for supplying power from the vehiclebody 140 side to the sliding door 150 side, a running member for bracket160 for running the wiring body 130 on the back surface of the bracketand holding the wiring body 130.

The condition in which the running member for bracket 160 is fixed onthe back surface of the bracket 151 is shown in FIG. 9. The runningmember for bracket 160 includes the running tube 161 into which thewiring body is inserted, and the fixing member 162 for fixing therunning tube 161 on the back surface of the bracket 151. Not only flatcable but, for example, round wire can be used as the wiring body 130.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, since the flat cable, asthe wiring body 130, is arranged to run between the vehicle body sidefixing member 110 and the bracket side fixing member 120 in such amanner that the flat surface is perpendicularly maintained, the flatcable is perpendicularly extracted from the bracket side fixing member120 toward the bracket 151. In the present embodiment, a flat cablearranged to perpendicularly run can be horizontally fixed on the backsurface of the bracket 151 in use of the running tube 161 whose sectionis twisted from perpendicular into horizontal and curved such asadjusted to the shape of the bracket 151.

The running tube 161 into which the wiring body 130 is inserted, isfixed on the bracket 151 with the fixing members 162. Preferably, thefixing members 162 are provided, at least, in the position where thesection of the running tube 161 is twisted from perpendicular intohorizontal and in the other end. In addition, it is preferable to addthe fixing members provided with appropriate gaps.

As described above, since the flat surface of the wiring body 130 istwisted such as being parallel to the back surface of the bracket 151 inuse of the running tube for bracket 160 including the running tube 161and the fixing member 162, the wiring body 130 can be preferablyarranged to run. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the wiring body130 from being exposed from the bracket 151 and to improve theappearance even when the sliding door is opened. Furthermore, forexample, the running tube 161 can be extended to and provided in thebracket side fixing member 120, not only on the back surface of thebracket 151. Or it can be extended to and provided in the sliding door150.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention is explained below in use of theembodiment shown in FIG. 10. In the present embodiment, flat cable 230is used as the wiring body, and the flat surface adjustment member 261and the running direction control member 262 are provided as runningmember for bracket 260 for running the flat cable 230 on the backsurface of the bracket 151. The running member for bracket 260 providedon the back surface of the bracket 151 is shown in FIG. 11.

The flat surface adjustment member 261 is provided for adjusting theflat cable 230 arranged to perpendicularly run to the bracket sidefixing member 151 such as being horizontal on the back surface of thebracket 151. One example of the flat surface adjustment member 261 isshown in FIG. 12. The flat surface adjustment member 261 consists ofrunning base member 263 and wiring fixing member 264 in which the flatcable 230 is arranged run on the running base member 263, and is fixedwith the wiring fixing member 264.

The running base member 263 has a surface which is perpendicular at theend portion 263 a, gradually coming into horizontal and horizontal atthe end portion 263 b. In FIG. 12( a), since the flat cable 230 arrangedto run with the flat surface perpendicular, is arranged to run from theend portion 263 a to the end portion 263 b along the running base 263,it is possible to maintain the flat cable 230 horizontal at the endportion 263 b. The running base 263 can be fixed with, for example,screws 267 on the bracket 151.

In the present embodiment, the flat cable 230 is perpendicularlyextracted from the bracket side fixing member 120, however, it is notlimited to the case that the flat surface of the flat cable 230 isperpendicularly extracted, but in the case that the flat cable 230 isarranged to run non-parallel to the back surface of the bracket 151, theflat surface adjustment member 261 can also be used. In the case thatthe flat surface of the flat cable 230 is not perpendicularlymaintained, it is possible to horizontally maintain the flat cable 230at the end portion 263 b by running the flat cable 230 from the middleof the running base 263.

As described above, since the flat cable 230 extracted from the bracketside fixing member 120 is arranged to horizontally run on the backsurface of the bracket 151 in use of the flat surface adjustment member261, it is possible to securely fix the flat cable 230. It is preferablethat the flat surface adjustment member 261 is provided as possible asnear the bracket side fixing member 120 on the back surface of thebracket 151. Furthermore, the flat surface adjustment member 261 can beintegrally formed with the bracket side fixing member 120.

The flat cable 230 arranged to horizontally run on the back surface ofthe bracket 151 in use of the flat surface adjustment member 261 isreplicated with the running direction control member 262 and is arrangedto run to the sliding door side end portion of the bracket 151. Therunning direction control member 262 is used for controlling the runningdirection of the flat cable 230 from the flat surface adjustment member261 to the sliding door side end portion of the bracket 151 in order toprevent the flat cable 230 from going beyond the bracket 151.

One embodiment of the running direction control member 262 is shown inFIG. 13. The running direction control member 262 is used for nippingand fixing the replicated portion 230 a of the flat cable 230. The flatcable 230 is replicated at replicated portion 230 a in the prescribeddirection, and is arranged to run in the prescribed direction after thereplicated portion 230 a is pressed and fixed with the running directioncontrol member 262. The running direction control member 262 can befixed on the bracket 151, for example, with screws 267.

As described above, it is possible to securely fix the replicatedportion 230 a of the flat cable 230 on the bracket 151 in use of therunning direction control member 262. The flat cable 230 is replicatedto the left in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, however, the runningdirection control member 262 having the wire fixture 266 on the rightside can be used when the flat cable 230 is replicated to the right.Otherwise, the running direction control member 262 having the wirefixture 266 on both sides, left and right, can be used.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention is explained in use of theembodiment shown in FIG. 14. In the present embodiment, further, therunning base 271 and the protection cover 272 are added to the runningmember for bracket 260 of the second embodiment described above. FIG. 14is plan view of the running member for bracket 270 fixed on the bracket151.

In FIG. 14, the flat surface adjustment member 261 and the runningdirection control member 262 are provided in the running base 271 andthe running base 271 is fixed on the bracket 151. As described above, byfixing the flat surface adjustment member 261 and the running directioncontrol member 262 in use of the running base 271, the number of thefixing points on the bracket 151 can be reduced, and only 4 screws 267are used for fixing the flat surface adjustment member 261 and runningdirection control member 262 on the bracket 151 in FIG. 14. Accordingly,it is possible to reduce the number of screw holes on the bracket 151into which the screws 267 are inserted and to reduce the stress on thebracket 151.

Furthermore, the flat cable can be easily and securely engaged andprovided on the running base 271. In the present embodiment, the flatcable 230, flat surface adjustment member 261 and running directioncontrol member 262 are covered with the protection cover 230 and fixedwith the screws 267. Therefore, it is possible to safely protect theflat cable without damages from the outside. In use of the runningmember for bracket 270 of the present embodiment, since the flat cableis not exposed when looking from the interior, and even when lookinginto a lower position of the vehicle body, it is possible to provide thepower supply apparatus for sliding door which presents a goodappearance.

Furthermore, either a rectangular conductor or a round wire, as thewiring body, can be used for a conductor enclosed within the flat cablehowever, it is preferable to use the flat cable in which the rectangularconductor is enclosed.

The plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding door accordingto the sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 15.The power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the present inventionis provided in the vicinity of the guide rail 141 provided in thevehicle body for opening and closing of the sliding door. One example ofthe vehicle configuration in the vicinity of the sliding door is asexplained in use of FIG. 2.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the presentembodiment includes, a bracket side fixing member 120 provided in thebracket 151, a wiring body for supplying power from a vehicle body sideto the sliding door 150 side, an exterior tube 131 into which the wiringbody 130 is inserted for protecting the wiring body 130. The wiring bodyis held directly, or under the exterior tube 131, by the vehicle bodyside fixing member 110 and bracket side fixing member 120. In thepresent embodiment, the exterior tube 131 has characteristics in itsconfiguration.

The vehicle body side fixing member 110 is provided more inside thevehicle body 140 than the location of the guide rail 141. This is forpreventing the vehicle body side fixing member 110 from interfering withthe bracket 151 which moves along the guide rail 141. And the vehiclebody side fixing member 110 is located substantially in the middle ofthe guide rail 141 in the direction of the opening and closing of thesliding door 150. Since they are arranged as described above, the wiringbody 130 and exterior tube 131 do not have loosening when the slidingdoor 150 is fully opened and fully closed, and have loosening when thesliding door is in the status between the full-opening and full-closing.

In the power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the presentembodiment, the exterior tube 131 has a configuration such as shown inFIG. 16 in order to prevent the wiring body 130 and exterior tube 131from going beyond the guide rail receiving portion 143 when the wiringbody 130 and exterior tube 131 have loosening. FIG. 16 shows (a) planview, (b) side view and (c) sectional view taken along line A-A of theexterior tube 131. The exterior tube 131 has a hollow portion 135 whichis circumscribed with an upper surface 132, a lower surface 133 and twoside surfaces 134 to be formed in the longitudinal direction, into whichthe wiring body 130 is inserted. Such synthetic resin as polypropyleneor the like can be used for the material of the exterior tube 131. Theexterior tube of other embodiments described above can be made of samematerial.

In the exterior tube 131 of the present embodiment, the thickness of theupper surface 132 is higher than the thickness of the lower surface 133as shown in FIG. 16 (c), and, by making the thickness of the uppersurface 133 higher, it is possible to maintain the rigidity of the uppersurface 132 higher than the rigidity of the lower surface 133. The uppersurface 132 having high rigidity can not easily bend, and even when itbends, it tends to bend forming into an arc having high curvature andbend. On the other hand, the lower surface 133 having low rigidity caneasily bend, and it tends to bend forming into an arc having lowercurvature than the arc into which the upper surface forms. As a result,the exterior tube 131 tends to bend with the lower surface 133 havinglow rigidity (low curvature) inside and with the upper surface 132 (highcurvature) outside.

In use of the exterior tube 131 having such a configuration as describedabove, the power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the presentembodiment leaves such a trace as shown in FIG. 20 accompanied with theopening and closing of the sliding door 150. This figure shows thecondition of the exterior tube 131 in the status between thefull-opening and full-closing of the sliding door 150, and the exteriortube 131 moves inside the guide rail receiving portion 23 having thebent portion 136 whose upper surface 132 is outside and lower 133surface is inside.

Furthermore, since the vehicle body side fixing member 110 has theconfiguration in which the first R part 111 is provided, and the bracketside fixing member 120 has the configuration in which the second R part121 is provided as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 18, a bent portion can beformed in the same direction as the bent portion 136 shown in FIG. 18when the sliding door 150 is fully opened and fully closed, and theexterior tube 131 can be securely moved in the opening and closing ofthe sliding door 150. As a result, the exterior tube 131 and the wiringbody 130 received within the exterior tube 131 are movable inside theguide rail receiving portion 143 without, for example, forming intolarge arc shape and being exposed outside the guide rail receivingportion 143.

It is preferable to use the flat cable for the wiring body 130 receivedwithin the exterior tube 131. In the case that the wiring body 130 inwhich multiple flat cables are overlapped, is used, since the flat cablehas restoring force to be linear when the flat cable is bent in the bentportion 14, the wiring body 13 can be moved only inside the guide railreceive member 23 without a risk that the wiring body 13 forms into alarge arc shape and is exposed outside the guide rail receive member 23.Either a rectangular conductor or a round wire can be used for aconductor enclosed within the flat cable as the wiring body 130,however, it is preferable to use the flat cable in which the rectangularconductor is enclosed.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the seventhembodiment of the present invention is explained in use of theembodiment shown in FIG. 19. FIG. 19 shows the configuration of theexterior tube 231 used in the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present embodiment, and respectively, (a) is plan view of theexterior tube 231, (b) is side view of the exterior tube 231 and (c) issectional view of the exterior tube 231 taken along line A-A.

In the exterior tube 231 of the present embodiment, the upper surface232 and the lower surface 233 have equal thickness, however, the uppersurface 232 is made of the materials which has high flexibility.Therefore, this enables the exterior tube 231 to easily bend with theupper surface 232 having high flexibility outside. One embodiment of theexterior tube 231 which is in the status of bending is shown in FIG. 20.As this figure shows, the bent portion 236 is formed in the exteriortube 231 with the lower surface 233 inside and with the upper surface232 stretched.

In the present embodiment, in use of the exterior tube 231, it cansecurely move inside the guide rail receiving portion only having thebent portion 236 shown in FIG. 20 in the opening and closing of thesliding door. And, by making the thickness of the lower surface 233 low,the curvature of the bent portion 236 can be low, same as the exteriortube 131 of the first embodiment.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the eighthembodiment of the present invention is explained in use of theembodiment shown in FIG. 21. FIG. 21 shows the configuration of theexterior tube 231 used in the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present embodiment, and respectively, (a) is plan view of uppersurface 332 of the exterior tube 331, (b) is plan view of lower surface333, (c) is side view and (d) is sectional view taken along line A-A.

The exterior tube 331 of the present embodiment has a configuration inwhich numerous triangular grooves 334 are formed on the lower surface333 and the side view of FIG. 21 (c) wholly presents a saw-likeappearance. The numerous triangular grooves 334 formed on the lowersurface 333 enables the exterior tube 331 to easily bend with the lowersurface 333 inside. One embodiment of the exterior tube 331 in thestatus of bending is shown in FIG. 22. In the exterior tube 331 formedas described above, the lower surface 333 tends to bend inside with thegrooves 334 constricted and the bent portion 336 shown in FIG. 22 isformed.

In the present embodiment, likewise, in use of the exterior tube 331, itcan securely move inside the guide rail receiving portion only with thebent portion 236 shown in FIG. 20 formed in the opening and closing ofthe sliding door.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the ninthembodiment of the present invention is explained in use of the exampleshown in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is side view of the exterior tube 431 used inthe power supply apparatus for sliding door of the present embodiment.Although the rectangular grooves 336 are formed on the lower surface 333of the exterior tube 331 of the embodiment 3-3, rectangular grooves 434are formed in the exterior tube 431 of the present embodiment.

When numerous rectangular grooves 434 are formed on the lower surface433, the exterior tube 431 can easily bend with the lower surface 433inside, same as the third embodiment. One example of the exterior tube431 in the status of bending is shown in FIG. 24. In the exterior tube431 formed as described above, the lower surface 433 tends to bendinside with the grooves 434 constricted and the bent portion 436 shownin FIG. 24 is formed.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the tenthexample of the present invention is explained in use of the exampleshown in FIG. 25. FIG. 25 shows the configuration of the exterior tube531 used in the power supply apparatus for sliding door of the presentembodiment, and respectively, (a) is plan view of upper surface 532 ofthe exterior tube 531, (b) is side view of the exterior tube 531 and (c)is sectional view of the exterior tube 531 taken along line A-A.

The exterior tube 531 of the present embodiment has a configuration inwhich protruding portions 534 are formed on the both edges of the uppersurface 532. Since these projecting portions 534 are formed on the uppersurface 532, the upper surface 532 of the exterior tube 531 tends not toeasily bend. As a result, the exterior tube 531 tends to bend with thelower surface 533 inside. As the exterior tube 531 bends, the protrudingportions 534 recline outside to be bent. One example of the exteriortube 531 in the status of bending is shown in FIG. 26.

As the exterior tube 531 bends and the protruding portions 534 are bent,the bent portion 536 is sharply bent. Therefore, in the exterior tube531 of the present embodiment, since the exterior tube 531 sharplybends, it is possible to prevent the exterior tube 531 from expanding tobe exposed outside the guide rail receiving portion.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door according to the eleventhembodiment of the present invention is explained in use of the exampleshown in FIG. 27. FIG. 27 shows the configuration of the exterior tube631 used in the power supply apparatus for sliding door of the presentembodiment, and respectively, (a) is plan view of the exterior tube 631,(b) is side view of the exterior tube 631 and (c) is sectional view ofthe exterior tube 631 taken along line A-A.

In the exterior tube 631 of the present example, cross sections of theupper surface 632 and the lower surface 633 have an arc shape whichupwardly swells as shown in FIG. 27 (c). Since the cross sections havethe arc shape shown in FIG. 27 (c), the exterior tube 631 tends not toeasily bend with its configuration. Especially, the exterior tube 631tends not to easily bend with the upper surface 632 swelling in an arcshape inside, and exterior tube 632 bends with the upper surface 632outside when it bends. One example of the exterior tube 631 in thestatus of bending is shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 28 shows an example of the bent portion 636 as the exterior tube631 bends with the upper surface 632 swelling in an arc shape outside.As the exterior tube 631 bends, the bent portion 636 is sharply bentwith the arc shape flattened. Namely, in the exterior tube 636 of thepresent embodiment, same as the exterior tube 531 of the fifthembodiment, the bent portion 636 is sharply bent. Therefore, in theexterior tube 631 of the present embodiment, since the exterior tube 631sharply bends, it is possible to prevent the exterior tube 631 fromexpanding to be exposed outside the guide rail receiving portion.

As explained above, in any embodiment of the power supply apparatus forsliding door of the present invention, since the exterior tube has theconfiguration described above, it is possible to form only one bentportion in the opening and closing of the sliding door, and to securelymove the exterior tube and the wiring body received within the exteriortube inside the guide rail receiving portion.

FIG. 29 is plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe twelfth embodiment according to the present invention. The powersupply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the present embodiment isprovided in the vicinity of the guide rail 141 provided in the vehiclebody for opening and closing of the sliding door. One embodiment of thevehicle configuration is shown in FIG. 30. In this figure, the slidingdoor 150 is supported with the bracket 151 provided on the lower frontportion of the sliding door 150, another bracket provided on the upperfront portion of the sliding door 150 and another bracket provided onthe rear portion of the sliding door 150 which are not shown in thefigures.

On the vehicle body 140 side, a step 142 is provided in the sliding doorentry portion and the guide rail 141 is provided beneath the step 142.The guide rail receiving portion 143 (shown in FIG. 30 as shaded) inwhich the guide rail 141 is provided, is space for the bracket 151 totravel. The sliding door 150 is arranged to open and close as the rollerprovided on the vehicle body side end of the bracket 151, which is notshown in the figures, travels along the guide rail 141.

Furthermore, the guide rail receiving portion is also provided for thebracket provided on the upper portion of the sliding door 150, and thepower supply apparatus for sliding door according to the presentinvention is applicable to the upper bracket and guide rail receivingportion. Otherwise, it is applicable to both the upper and lowerbrackets and guide rail receiving portions.

The guide rail 141 is provided parallel to the vehicle body 140 suchthat the sliding door 150 moves parallel to the vehicle body 140 fromthe full-opening status shown in FIG. 30 to the half-closing status.Since, when the sliding door 150 moves to the full-closing status, it isnecessary to pull the sliding door 150 toward the vehicle body 140 side,the guide rail 141 is arranged to curve toward the inside of the vehiclebody 140 in the vicinity of the middle portion and extended to the frontportion.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the presentembodiment includes the vehicle body side fixing member 110 provided inthe guide rail receiving portion 143, the bracket side fixing member 120provided in the bracket 151 and the wiring support member 160 forrunning the wiring body extracted from the bracket side fixing member120 to the sliding door 150 along the edge portion of the bracket 151.The wiring body 130 is held by the vehicle body side fixing member 110and the bracket side fixing member 120, and further is arranged to runalong the edge portion of the bracket 150 with the wiring support member160 to the sliding door 150.

The configuration of the wiring support member 160 according to thepresent embodiment is shown in FIG. 31. The wiring support member 160includes, at least, not less than two pairs of two fixing hooks 161, 162facing each other, and has a configuration in which the wiring body 130is inserted between the two fixing hooks 161, 162, to be supported. FIG.31 (a) shows the condition in which the wiring body 130 is insertedbetween the two fixing hooks 161, 162 to be fixed, and (a) is plan viewand (b) is sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 29 and FIG. 31 show the case in which a round wire is used as thewiring body 130, and sections of the fixing hooks 161, 162 have shapesaccompanied with the shape of the wiring body 130 such that the wiringbody 130 is easily held. The fixing hooks 161, 162 are impelled to presseach other such that the wiring body 130 can be forcibly inserted fromthe edges of them. In the wiring support member 160 shown in FIG. 29,six pairs of the fixing hooks 161, 162 having the configurationdescribed above are arrayed along the edge portion of the bracket 151.The number of the pair can be appropriately decided according to theconfiguration, size or the like of the bracket 151.

The configuration of the wiring support member 160 in which a flat cableis used as the wiring body 130 is shown, as an example, in (a) as planview and (b) as sectional view of FIG. 32. In the case that a flat cableis used as the wiring body 130, it is preferable that the fixing hooks161, 162 have flat shape and have a hollow only in a portion into wherethe flat cable is inserted. The flat cable is inserted and fitted intothe prescribed hollow from the edges of the fixing hooks 161, 162 suchthat the flat cable is held by the fixing hooks 161, 162.

Furthermore, the fixing hooks 161, 162 can be integrally formed with thebracket 151. And in the embodiment described above, the wiring body 130is directly held by the fixing hooks 161, 162, however, in the case thewiring body 130 is inserted into a protection tube, the wiring body 130can be held by the fixing hooks 161, 162 under the protection tube.

Another embodiment of the wiring support member 160, in which a clamp isfitted on the edges of the fixing hooks 161, 162 for catching themtogether, is shown in FIG. 33. As shown in FIG. 33 (b), the recesses 161a, 162 a are respectively provided on the edges of the fixing hooks 161,162, and the clamp 163 which is formed such as fitted to the recesses161 a, 161 b, is fitted to the recesses 161 a, 161 b after the flatcable is inserted. Since the edges of the fixing hooks 161, 162 arecaught together with the clamp 163 as described above, it is possible toavoid a risk that the flat cable is detached from the fixing hooks 161,162 by the vibration in the vehicle driving.

The thirteenth embodiment of the power supply apparatus according to thepresent invention, in which the wiring support member has anotherconfiguration, is explained below in use of FIG. 34. In the wiringsupport member 260 of the present embodiment, at least, not less thantwo pairs of a mounting hook 261 formed for mounting the wiring body 130and a metal fixture 262 facing the mounting hook 261 for interposing andfixing the wiring body 130, are arrayed along the edge portion of thebracket 150, same as the embodiment described above. FIG. 34 (a) is planview of the wiring support member 260 and FIG. 34 (b) is sectional viewof the wiring support member 260.

In the case that the wiring support member 260 of the present embodimentis used, the wiring body 130 is fixed with the metal fixtures 262 afterthe wiring body 130 is mounted on the mounting hook 261. The metalfixture 262 is connected to the mounting hook 261 with a hinge 263, andis arranged to be rotatable with the hinge 263 used as a centralportion. After the wiring body 130 is mounted on the mounting hook 261and is pinched with the metal fixture 262, the metal fixture 262 can befixed to the mounting hook 261 with the bolt 264.

In the wiring support member 260 of the present embodiment, since thewiring body 130 is fixed by the mounting hooks 261 and metal fixtures262, it is possible to prevent the wiring body 130 is from movingbetween the vehicle body 140 and sliding door 150 in the opening andclosing of the sliding door 150, and, therefore, there can be avoidedthe risk that the wiring body 130 is damaged and the appearance is alsoimproved. Furthermore, since the bolt 264 is connected to the metalfixture 262 such that they can not come apart, the mounting hook 261,metal fixture 262 and bolt 264 are connected and the work efficiency forrunning the wiring body 130 is improved.

Furthermore, the mounting hook 261 can be integrally formed with thebracket 151. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the wiringbody 130 is directly held by the mounting hooks 261 and metal fixtures262, however, the wiring body 130 which is inserted into a protectiontube or the like can be held by the mounting hooks 261 and metalfixtures 262 under the protection tube.

The fourteenth embodiment of the power supply apparatus according to thepresent invention, in which the wiring support member has anotherconfiguration, is explained below in use of FIG. 35. FIG. 35 (a) is planview of the wiring support member 360, and FIG. 35 (b) is sectional viewtaken along line B-B of the wiring support member 360. The wiringsupport member 360 of the present embodiment includes a running tube 361and the metal fittings 362 for fixing the running tube 361 on thebracket 151. The running tube 361 is supported with the metal fittings362 and can be fixed on the bracket 151 with the screws 363.

In use of the wiring support member 360, the wiring body 130 insertedinto the running tube 361 from the bracket side fixing member 120, canbe arranged to run to the sliding door 150. Since the wiring body 130 isreceived within the running tube 361, it is possible to prevent thewiring body 130 from moving between the vehicle body 140 and the slidingdoor 150 in the opening and closing of the sliding door 150, and,therefore, there can be avoided the risk that the wiring body 130 isdamaged and the appearance is also improved.

Furthermore, in any embodiment described above, either a round wire or aflat cable can be used as the wiring body 130. Furthermore, either arectangular conductor or a round wire can be used as a conductorenclosed within the flat cable.

The plan view of the power supply apparatus for sliding door accordingto the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.36. The power supply apparatus for sliding door 10 of the presentembodiment is provided in the vicinity of the guide rail 141 provided inthe vehicle body for opening and closing the sliding door. One exampleof the vehicle configuration in the vicinity of the sliding door isshown in FIG. 37. In this figure, the sliding door 150 is supported withthe bracket 151 provided on the lower front portion of the sliding door150, and another bracket provided on the upper front portion of thesliding door 150 and another bracket provided on the rear portion of thesliding door 150 which are not shown in the figures.

On the vehicle body side, the step 142 is provided in a sliding doorentry portion, and the guide rail 141 is provided underneath the step142. The guide rail receiving portion 143 (shown in FIG. 37 as shaded)in which the guide rail 141 is provided, is space for the bracket 151 totravel. The sliding door 150 is arranged to open and close as a rollerprovided on the end of the bracket 151 on the vehicle body side, whichis not shown in the figures, travels along the guide rail 141.

Furthermore, the guide rail receiving portion is provided for thebracket provided on the upper portion of the sliding door 150, and thepower supply apparatus for sliding door according to the presentinvention is applicable to the upper bracket and guide rail receivingportion. Otherwise, it is applicable to both the upper and lower bracketand guide rail receiving portion.

The guide rail 141 is provided parallel to the vehicle body 140 suchthat the sliding door 150 moves parallel to the vehicle body 140 fromthe full-opening status shown in FIG. 37 to the half-closing status.Since, as the sliding door 150 is moved to the full-closing status, itis necessary to pull the sliding door 150 toward the vehicle body 140side, the guide rail 141 is arranged to curve toward the inside of thevehicle body 140 in the vicinity of the middle portion to the frontportion.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 of the presentembodiment includes the vehicle body side fixing member 110 provided inthe guide rail receiving portion 143, bracket side fixing member 120provided on the edge portion of the bracket 31 on the vehicle body 140side, and the wiring body 130 supported with the vehicle body sidefixing member 110 and bracket side fixing member 120 for supplying powerfrom the vehicle body 140 side to the sliding door 150 side.Furthermore, in the power supply apparatus for sliding door 100, theexterior tube 161 into which the wiring body 130 is inserted forprotecting the wiring body 130 is provided on the back surface of thebracket 151.

In the present embodiment, the wiring body 130 is arranged to run fromvehicle body side fixing member 110 to the back surface of the bracket151, through the bracket side fixing member 120, and further from thebracket 151 to the sliding door fixing member 152. The wiring body 130is arranged to run on the back surface of the bracket 151 in order tohide the wiring body 130 in the opening and closing of the sliding door150 and to improve the appearance.

The details of the exterior tube 161 provided on the back surface of thebracket 151 are shown in FIG. 38. The exterior tube 161 whose one end isheld with the bracket side fixing member 120, reaches to the backsurface of the bracket 151 from the bracket side fixing member 120through minimum route. And the exterior tube 161 is arranged to run tothe vicinity of the end portion 151 a of the bracket 151 on the slidingdoor side, through a route hidden by the front surface of the bracket151. The exterior tube 161 is appropriately fixed on the bracket 151with the metal fittings 162.

One end of the exterior tube 161 is held with the bracket side fixingmember 120 in order to prevent considerable stress from being applied tothe wiring body 130. In the case that the exterior tube 161 wereprovided, for example, only on the back surface of the bracket 151, thewiring body 130 would be exposed between the bracket side fixing member120 and entry portion of the exterior tube 161. In this case, therewould be a risk that considerable stress is applied on the wiring body130 in the entry portion of the exterior tube 161 as the exposed portionof the wiring body 130 sways outside the exterior tube 161. Therefore,the exterior tube 161 is extended to the bracket side fixing member 120,and the wiring body 130 is held with the bracket side fixing member 120and is inserted into the exterior tube 161 such that the wiring body 130is fixed without the risk that considerable stress is not applied on thewiring body 130.

In the present embodiment, the exterior tube 161 is provided on the backsurface of the bracket 151 because the area in which the wiring body 130has a risk to be mostly damaged from the outside is a crossing areabetween the vehicle body 140 and the sliding door 150. In the wiringbody 130 of the present embodiment, the wiring body 130 of the crossingarea is arranged to run on the back surface of the bracket 151. Sincethe wiring body 130 is arranged to run on the back surface of thebracket, it is possible to prevent the wiring body 130 from swaying andto securely run the wiring body 130.

When the wiring body 130 is arranged to run on the back surface of thebracket 151, it is preferable to make the rigidity of the exterior tube161 high in order to prevent the wiring body 130 from being damaged fromthe outside. Since the bracket 151 is exposed outside between thevehicle body 140 and the sliding door 150, it has risks to be hit bystones or to be moistened with water. Therefore, it is preferable thatthe exterior tube 261 has high rigidity in order to prevent the wiringbody 130 from being damaged by such obstacles.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door of the sixteenth embodimentaccording to the present invention is explained in use of FIG. 39. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 39, the wiring body 130 is arranged to runalong the edge portion of the bracket 151 and the exterior tube 261 isprovided along the edge portion of the bracket 151. The exterior tube261 is pinched and held with the metal fittings 262, and the edges ofthe metal fittings 262 are fixed with screws or the like on the bracket151.

In the present embodiment, one end of the exterior tube 261 is alsoextended to the bracket side fixing member 120, and is held with thebracket side fixing member 120. Accordingly, the wiring body 130 whichis held with the bracket side fixing member 120 can be inserted into theexterior tube 161 and, same as the first embodiment, it is possible toprevent considerable stress from being applied on the wiring body 130.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door of the seventeenthembodiment according to the present invention is explained in use ofFIG. 40. The exterior tube 361 is provided from the bracket side fixingmember 120, through the bracket 151, to the sliding door side fixingmember 152. Namely, the guide tube 161 of the first embodiment isprovided to be extended from the sliding door side end portion 151 a ofthe bracket 151 to the sliding door side fixing member 152.

By extending the exterior tube 361 to the sliding door side fixingmember 152, the wiring body 130 can be protected between the bracketside fixing member 120 and the sliding door side fixing member 152 withthe exterior tube 361. In the case that the wiring body 130 has a riskto be damaged from the outside in the area between the sliding door sideend portion 151 a of the bracket 151 and the sliding door side fixingmember 152, it is preferable to use the exterior tube 361 of the presentembodiment.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the end portion of the exterior tube361 provided to the sliding door side fixing member 152 is fixedtogether with the wiring body 103 in the sliding door side fixing member152. When the wiring body 130 is exposed outside between the end portionof the exterior tube 361 and the sliding door side fixing member 152,there is a risk that considerable stress is applied on the wiring body130 for the reason same as the reason why the another end portion isfixed in the bracket side fixing member 120.

In the present embodiment, the wiring body 130 is protected between thebracket side fixing member 120 and the sliding door side fixing member152 with the single exterior tube 361, however, it is preferable thatthe wiring body 130 is fixed not to move in the area. Accordingly, it ispreferable that the exterior tube 361 has high rigidity and isintegrally formed. Therefore, it is possible to securely protect thewiring body 130 with the exterior tube 361 and to prevent the wiringbody 130 from being damaged from the outside.

The power supply apparatus for sliding door of the eighteenth embodimentaccording to the present invention is explained in use of FIG. 41. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 41, another exterior tube 461 is providedin the area from the vehicle body side fixing member 110 to the bracketside fixing member 120, added to the exterior tube 361 provided betweenthe bracket side fixing member 120 and the sliding door side fixingmember 152. Namely, the wiring tubes are provided in a whole area fromthe vehicle body side fixing member 110 and the sliding door side fixingmember 152. Accordingly, it is possible to protect the wiring body 130in a whole area from the vehicle body side fixing member 110 to thesliding door side fixing member 152.

In the present embodiment, the exterior tube 461 provided from thevehicle body side fixing member 110 to the bracket side fixing member120, which has different rigidity from the exterior tube 361 providedfrom the bracket side fixing member 120 to the sliding door side fixingmember 152, is used. As described above, the wiring body 130 from thebracket side fixing member 120 to the sliding door side fixing member152 is arranged not to move accompanied with the opening and closing ofthe sliding door 150. Therefore, it is preferable that the exterior tube361 has high rigidity such that it is not damaged from the outside.

On the other hand, the wiring body 130 provided from the vehicle bodyside fixing member 110 to the bracket side fixing member 120 is requiredto move inside the guide rail receiving portion 143 accompanied with theopening and closing of the sliding door 150. Accordingly, when thewiring body 461 has high rigidity same as the exterior tube 361, thewiring body has difficulty to move in side the guide rail receivingportion 143 accompanied with the opening and closing of the sliding door150. Therefore, the exterior tubes are separately provided as shown withreference numerals 361, 461, and the exterior tube 461 has lowerrigidity than the exterior tube 361.

Furthermore, it is preferable to use a flat cable which is movableinside the guide rail receiving portion 143 as the wiring body 130 whichis arranged to run from the vehicle body side fixing member 110 to thebracket side fixing member 120. Furthermore, it is preferable to use theflat cable within which a rectangular conductor is enclosed.

In the embodiment described above, the exterior tube 361 of theseventeenth embodiment is used in the combination with the exterior tube461 of the present embodiment, however, the exterior tube 461 can beused in the combination with the exterior tube 161 of the firstembodiment or the exterior tube 261 of the second embodiment. Whichexterior tube should be used in the combination with the exterior tube461 depends on whether it is preferable that the exterior tube isprovided between the sliding door side end portion 151 a of the bracket151 and the sliding door side fixing member 152 for protecting thewiring body 130.

As described above, in the power supply apparatus for sliding door ofthe present embodiment, since the area in which the wiring body 130 hasa risk to be damaged from the outside is protected with the exteriortube with high rigidity, it is possible to maintain the soundness of thewiring body 130 and to realize high reliability on it. The area in whichthe wiring body has a risk to be damaged includes, at least, the bracket151 which is exposed outside in the opening and closing the slidingdoor.

As an example, the power supply apparatus for sliding door according tothe present invention is shown in the description of the presentembodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Thedetails of the configuration and operation of the power supply apparatusfor sliding door according to the present embodiment can beappropriately changed as far as there is no deviation from the purposeof the present invention.

1. A power supply apparatus supplying power from a vehicle body to asliding door, in which a door-supporting bracket is arranged to movealong a guide rail in a guide rail receiving portion of said vehiclebody such that said sliding door is capable of opening and closing,comprising: a wiring body to supply power from said vehicle body side tosaid sliding door; a vehicle body side fixing member provided in aprescribed position of said guide rail receiving portion and that holdssaid wiring body at a fixed first position such that said wiring bodymoves inside said guide rail receiving portion and extends exterior tosaid vehicle body side fixing member at said fixed first position whenopening and closing said sliding door, said vehicle body side fixingmember including a first bend-forming portion having a non-zerocurvature of a first prescribed curvature radius that contacts saidwiring body to form a first bend at the curvature in said wiring bodywhen said sliding door is positioned at one of a fully-opened and afully-closed position; and a door-supporting bracket side fixing memberprovided in a prescribed position of said door-supporting bracket andthat holds said wiring body at a fixed second position such that saidwiring body moves inside said guide rail receiving portion when openingand closing said sliding door, said door-supporting bracket side fixingmember including a second bend-forming portion having a secondprescribed curvature radius that contacts said wiring body to form asecond bend in said wiring body when said sliding door is positioned atsaid fully-opened position and a third bend-forming portion having athird prescribed curvature radius that contacts said wiring body to forma third bend in said wiring body when said sliding door is positioned atsaid fully-closed position, said third prescribed curvature radius beingmore than said second prescribed curvature radius and greater than zero,wherein the wiring body contacts the second bend-forming portion and thethird bend-forming portion throughout an entire operation of the slidingdoor.
 2. The power supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidwiring body is a flat cable arranged to run at least between saidvehicle body side fixing member and said door-supporting bracket sidefixing member, said flat cable being arranged such that a moving traceof said flat cable is formed on a horizontal plane with a flat surfaceof said flat cable perpendicularly maintained.
 3. The power supplyapparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said vehicle body sidefixing member is provided substantially in a middle of said guide rail,and said vehicle body side fixing member is provided more inside saidvehicle body than said guide rail.
 4. The power supply apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle body side fixing member, inwhich said wiring body is extracted from said vehicle body, furtherincludes an oblique surface with a prescribed angle in an extractingdirection, and said prescribed curvature radius of said firstbend-forming portion curves in a direction opposite to said extractingdirection.
 5. The power supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid wiring body is held between said second bend-forming portion andsaid third bend-forming portion at said fixed second position.
 6. Thepower supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wiring bodyis a flat cable arranged to run at least from said vehicle body sidefixing member to said door-supporting bracket side fixing member.
 7. Thepower supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saiddoor-supporting bracket side fixing member is provided in saidprescribed position of said door-supporting bracket such that at leastpart of said door-supporting bracket side fixing member is disposedwithin the guide rail receiving portion in both the fully-opened andfully-closed positions.